Miami Marlins' Jose Fernandez Awarded For Stellar August

By Ryan Gaydos

Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports

Although Los Angeles Dodgers starter Zack Greinke may have had a better month for the team, going 5-0 with a 1.23 ERA in August and winning the National League Pitcher of the Month award, Miami Marlins pitcher Jose Fernandez had a fantastic August compared to the rookies of the National League, beating out the Dodgers’ Yasiel Puig once again.

Fernandez was named the National League Rookie of the Month on Wednesday, marking his second-straight award of this season. He becomes the first pitcher to win two Rookie of the Month awards in a single season since Atlanta Braves closer Craig Kimbrel did it in 2011. He is also the first pitcher to win in consecutive months since former Marlin Josh Johnson did it in 2006.

In August, Fernandez had a 3-1 record as well as a 1.15 ERA. His ERA was third lowest in the NL overall and second-lowest among rookies. Only the Braves’ Alex Wood and Dodgers’ Clayton Kershaw had lower ERAs last month. Fernandez was so dominant that opposing batters could barely touch his heat. The players he faced only batted .158 against him in August.

He also set a franchise rookie record with 14 strikeouts, breaking his own feat he set earlier in the season as he also broke the Marlins’ rookie record for strikeouts as well. With him coming off Player of the Week honors as well, it is full steam ahead for Fernandez for the rest of his career.

To cap off this season, it seems clear that Fernandez is the top candidate to win the NL Rookie of the Year; and if it were not for Kershaw, he may have had a say in the National League Cy Young award race.

Ryan Gaydos is a MLB columnist for RantSports.com. Follow him on Twitter, “like” him on Facebook or add him to your network on Google